Gay Catholic teacher fired

Gay Teacher Fights to Get Catholic School Job Back

A (1) P.E. teacher at an Ohio Catholic school is fighting to get her job back after being fired. Carla Hale worked at Bishop Watterson High School for 19 years —  the termination came after she published her partner’s name in her mother’s obituary back in February.

A parent wrote an anonymous letter to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus saying they were surprised a parochial school would employ someone who contradicted the (2) of the church.

Hale told NBC she had no problem putting her partner Julie’s name in her mother’s obituary.

CARLA HALE: “I told Julie what I (3) done. She instantly questioned me and she said, ‘ Are you sure you want to do this?’”

The Columbus Diocese has not publicly commented to any news outlets, but has given a (4) that said, “The Catholic Church respects the fundamental dignity of all persons but also must insist those in its employ respect the tenets of the church.”

After help from supporters proved to be unsuccessful (5) getting Hale reinstated, she (6) attorney Tom Tootle. He called the firing process unfair and selective in this interview with WCMH.

TOM TOOTLE: "Why does the Church pick and choose as (7) they are at a buffet?"

REPORTER: “Hale’s lawyer says Catholic educators aren't being fired for getting a divorce, using (8) control or having extramarital affairs.”

But on the other side of the coin, WBNS reports the Diocese did not fire her (9) of her sexual orientation.

ANCHOR: “The Columbus Catholic Diocese is making it clear — it did not fire a gym teacher because she was gay. It fired her because she publicized her sexual preference.”

Hale’s firing has generated a lot of controversy. Students for the school took to the streets in front of the Columbus Diocese to protest her termination. They argue the Church should (10) more accepting.

BOB KENDRICK: “Some of their signs quoted scripture, some talked about love and (11).”

STUDENT: “It didn’t matter to any of us at the school. She was a great person, so none of that mattered because she loved all of us.” (Video Via WSYX)

Parents are sticking up for Hale, too. One student’s father was kicked out of a fundraiser dinner Sunday night after confronting the bishop (12) the matter. He told WSYX he was removed with so much force, he had to go to the E.R. (Via Bishop Watterson High School)

Carla Hale says she doesn’t want money or fame — she just wants her job back and has vowed to keep fighting.
  

*Video is no longer available.

Complete the text by choosing a suitable word like you do in Use of English Parts 1 - 3.

(1) #FCE1      A. latter    B. prior    C. former    D. previous

(2) #FCE3      BELIEVE

(3) #FCE2

(4) #FCE1      A. sentence      B. statement      C. saying      D. sounding

(5) #FCE2

(6) #FCE1      A. hired    B. rented    C. scheduled    D. placed

(7) #FCE2

(8) #FCE3       BORN

(9) #FCE2

(10) #FCE2

(11) #FCE3    EQUAL

(12) #FCE2

I have five teachers employed at Catholic schools this year. I'd be interested to hear their opinions on the story.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Patricia FCE:
1) Former
2) believe
3) Had
4) Statement
5) in
6) hired
7) ???
8) Born
9) because
10) be
11) equal
12) about

:)
Graham said…
Hi Patri...cia! :-)))))

#FCE3 Nº2, nº8 and nº11 - you have to change the word to fit the sentence.

Have a try and at least have a guess at nº7.

All the others are correct.
Anonymous said…
Good night, Graham, here you are my first try FCE. See you tomorrow
José Luis profesor

Gay Teacher Fights to Get Catholic School Job Back

Complete the text by choosing a suitable word as you do in FCE Use of English Parts 1 - 3.

(1) #FCE1 Former

(2) #FCE3 BELIEFS

(3) #FCE2 HAVE

(4) #FCE1 Statement

(5) #FCE2 IN

(6) #FCE1 Hired

(7) #FCE2 IF

(8) #FCE3 BIRTH

(9) #FCE2 BECAUSE

(10) #FCE2 BE

(11) #FCE3 EQUALITY

(12) #FCE2 ABOUT

Graham said…
Hi JL (Art Historian)! :D

Good evening is a more formal way to say Hello.

You say Good night when you are going to bed; so like Goodbye.

But as far as the exercise is concerned, you only made one mistake:

(3) I told Julie what I had done.


So if you are going to do as well in all the other exercises, roll on the FCE. LOL

Good night! (I'm going to bed in a bit, I'm exhausted)

Anonymous said…
Hi Graham, I am sending you a new exercise FCE level. See you next monday, José Luis profesor


Gay Teacher Fights to Get Catholic School Job Back

A FORMER P.E. teacher at an Ohio Catholic school (...)

A parent wrote an anonymous letter to The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus saying they were surprised a parochial school would employ someone who contradicted the BELIEFS of the church. (...)

CARLA HALE: “I told Julie what I HAD done. She instantly questioned me and she said, ‘ Are you sure you want to do this?’”

The Columbus Diocese has not publicly commented to any news outlets, but has given a STATEMENT that said, “The Catholic Church respects the fundamental dignity of all persons but also must insist those in its employ respect the tenets of the church.” (...)

After help from supporters proved to be unsuccessful TO getting Hale reinstated, she HIRED attorney Tom Tootle. (...)

TOM TOOTLE: "Why does the Church pick and choose as IF they are at a buffet?"
REPORTER: “Hale’s lawyer says Catholic educators aren't being fired for getting a divorce, using BIRTH control or having extramarital affairs.”

But on the other side of the coin, WBNS reports the Diocese did not fire her BECAUSE of her sexual orientation.(...)

Hale’s firing has generated a lot of controversy. Students for the school took to the streets in front of the Columbus Diocese to protest her termination. They argue the Church should BE more accepting.

BOB KENDRICK: “Some of their signs quoted scripture, some talked about love and EQUALITY.” (...)

Parents are sticking up for Hale, too. One student’s father was kicked out of a fundraiser dinner Sunday night after confronting the bishop ABOUT the matter. (...)

Graham said…
Hi JL Prof!

Don't you remember doing this exercise before?

I don't know if it's good news or bad news that you've only made one mistake - a different one to the last time.

... to be unsuccessful IN getting Hale reinstated

Anonymous said…
Oh, Graham, I am sorry my cluelessness. I'll pay more attention next time. See you on Monday, José Luis profesor
Graham said…
JL,

I'm sorry for my "cluelessness" - nice word LOL It's very useful for me.

Anonymous said…
Hi Graham,
It's Hilde
I've read it
It's an unfair dismissal. If she has been working19 years at the same school it seems she is a good teacher. Her private life musn't be a problem
PD. Wathsapp is out of order.... :-(((((
Graham said…
Hi Hilde,

I seem to remember a similar story in Spain.

A teacher got the sack because the school where he worked discovered that he was (or had) divorced.

I don't know if he won a claim for unfair dismissal.


In English we say PS. It stands for Post Script.